Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material



United States Patent 3,156,150 APPARATUS FOR ACTING 0N CONTINUQUSLY ADVANCING ELONGATED MATERIAL Albert J. Sarita, Maple Heights, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Wean Engineering Company, Inc. Filed Sept. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 56,971 13 Claims. (Cl. 83-298) This invention relates to apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material and particularly to control means for controlling the operation of such apparatus to predetermine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the material is acted on.

My invention is applicable to so-called flying tools of a ide variety of kinds. The apparatus may be specifically designed for shearing, marking, blanking, forming, stamping, etc. I shall use the term tool means to refer to the means performing the Work on the material and it is to be understood that the tool means may assume a wide variety of forms for accomplishing the functions above indicated or analogous functions. The tool means act on the material as the material advances and means are provided for imparting cyclic movement to the tool means wherby the tool means advance generally along the path of the advancing material and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof. This is the typical mcvement of tool means in a flying tool whether it be for shearing, stamping or other specific function.

The means for operating the tool means may be any means suitable for use in a flying tool and operating the tool means as above described. For example, the tool means may be operated by mechanism of the type disclosed in my Reissue Patent No. 24,807, reissued April 12, 1960, and I prefer to utilize such mechanism although other mechanism may be used in place thereof. For purposes of explanation and illustrationI shall show the invention as embodied in a flying shear incorporating mechanism of the general type disclosed in my said reissue patent.

It has been customary to employ a PlV unit for varying the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

Apparatus employing a PlV unit is limited in accuracy.

due to the varying load imposed on the PlV unit by loop conditions, side guiding and other factors. Moreover, to set the mechanism for a given length the PlV unit has to be rotating which introduces undesirable complications. Further, the cost of apparatus employing a PIV unit is high.

I do away with the PIV unit and provide in place thereof means having important advantages over prior mechanisms and accomplishing a superior result at reduced cost. I provide driving mechanism driving the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and independently of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material together with control means for controlling the driving mechanism to predeterminedly drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material. Preferably the control means control the driving mechanism to drive "ice the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material and selector means are provided for predetermining the time interval during which the feed means are driven at said different speed whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

My driving mechanism for driving the feed means may include a differential and means may be provided for operating the differential to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool mean-s act on the material and independently of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material. Control means may be provided for controlling the differential to predeterminedly drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material. The control means preferably include electronic means.

When a differential is employed a direct drive through the differential may be utilized to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material. The differential may have an element actuatable to cause the differential to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material, and I may provide actuating means for said element together with selector means for predetermining the time interval during which said element is actuated. Clutch and brake means may be interposed between the actuating means and said element selectively operable to connect the actuating means to said element to actuate said element and to stop actuation of said element, and the selector means may predetermine the time interval between operation of the clutch and operation of the brake and thereby control the length of time of actuation of said element whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

My control means preferably include an electronic counter, and in a preferred apparatus I employ control means including an electric pulse tachometer and an electric counter, for predetermining the time interval during which the feed means are driven at the aforementioned predetermined speed.

The driving mechanism may include a transmission driving the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and independently of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material, and the transmission may have means for varying the amplitude of advance of the material per cycle of the tool means.

When employing a dilferential having an element as above referred to actuatable to cause the differential to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material I preferably provide a constant speed motor for actuating said element and means including a counter for predetermining the time interval during which said motor actuates said element whereby to determine the spacing along the material be tween the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material. I preferably interpose clutch and bnake means between the motor and said element which will selectively operate to connect said motor to said ele ment to actuate said element and to stop actuation of said element together with a counter for determining the time interval between operation of the clutch and operation of the brake and thereby control the length of time of actuation of said element whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a flying cutter or shear for shearing continuously advancing elongated material; and

FIGURE 2 is a diagram illustrating the operative relationship between parts of my apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIG- URE 1 shows diagrammatically the flying cutter or shear illustnated in my said reissue patent, FIGURE 1 being a composite of FIGURES 4 and 12A of the drawings of the reissue patent. The general type of apparatus is by now well known to those skilled in the art. Mounted upon a base 2 is a housing 3 in which are journaled for rotation parallel vertically spaced apart horizontal shafts 4. Means are provided as shown in the reissue patent and as now well known to those skilled in the art for synchronously rotating the shafts 4 in the clockwise direction viewing FIGURE 1. Each of the shafts 4 is provided with two eccentric cams 5 and a floating frame 6 is mounted for rotation on the cams 5. A top platen 7 is carried by the frame 6 and an upper shear blade 8 is carried by the platen 7. The frame 6 has a vertical slot 9 within which a lower platen 10 is vertically reciprocable, the lower platen 10 carrying in its upper extremity the lower shear blade 11.

The lower platen It is pivoted at 12 to levers 13 respectively mounted upon eccentrics 14. The eccentrics 14 serve as pivotal mounting means for the levers 13 as the frame 6 partakes of circular movement about the axes of the shafts 4. Pinned to each eccentric 14 at 15 is a link 16. The links 16 have pivotal connection at 17 with a rod 18 connected with a solenoid 19. In FIGURE 1 the rod 18 is at the extreme right-hand end of its stroke. When the rod is in that position the eccentrics 14 have their high points extending generally upwardly so that the levers 13 are at a relatively elevated position. When the solenoid 19 is operated to move the rod 18 to the left the eccentrics 14 are turned through approximately 90 so that the high points of the eccentrics extend generally toward the left.

When the eccentrics 14 are in the position shown in FIGURE 1 and the shafts 4 are driven the upper and lower shear blades 8 and 11 cooperate upon each cycle to shear the material. If it is desired upon any cycle to produce a miscut or to avoid shearirng the material the solenoid 19 is operated to move the rod 18 to the left which lowers the levers 13 so that at no time during the cycle will the lower shear blade 11 move up to a position opposite the upper shear blade 8. Thus by operation of the solenoid the apparatus can be caused to miscut during any desired 'cycle or cycles.

Journaled in the housing 3 is a lower feed roll 20. Pivoted to the housing at 21 is a pair of levers 22 carrying an upper feed roll 23 biased toward the lower feed roll by a tension coil spring 24. The feed rolls 2t) and 23 are geared together and'are adapted to be driven to advance elongated material from right to left viewing FIG- URE 1. Before reaching the feed rolls the elongated material passes through a leveler 25 and a guide slot 26.

Everything that has been described above is now conventional in the art. My invention is concerned with the driving of the feed rolls 2t) and 23 to accomplish the improved results of the invention. The driving mechanism for the feed rolls and the control mechanism for the driving mechanism are shown diagrammatically in FIG- URE 2. Each of the elements shown is a commercially available element well known per so so it is unnecessary to show the details of the involved elements. They are, however, combined in novel relationship to accomplish my improved results.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, I show diagrammatically the lower feed roll 28. For clarity of showing the upper feed roll 23 is omitted in FIGURE 2. I also show diagrammatically one of the shafts 4 with its eccentrics 5. The floating frame 6 and the shearing means are omitted in FIGURE 2 to promote clarity of showing of the elements of the control mechanism. The shaft 4 shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 2 may be either the upper or the lower shaft 4 viewing FIGURE 1. The main drive of the apparatus is connected with the shaft 4 shown in FIGURE 2 and is indicated digrammatically at 27. This is a constant speed drive so that the shearing blades 8 and 11 partake of continuous cyclic movement. The elongated material to be sheared (or otherwise acted on) advances toward the left viewing FIGURES 1 and 2 and the shearing blades advance genenally along the path of the advancing material and act on the advancing material to shear it during such advance of the shearing blades and the shearing blades then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof. Such movement is now well understood by those skilled in the art. At the moment of shearing the material and the blades are advancing at substantially the same speed along the path of advance of the material.

Fixed to the shaft 4 is a gear 28 meshing with a gear 29 fixed to a shaft 30. Keyed to the shaft 30 but movable axially thereof is a gear unit 31 having three gears of different diameters, the gear of greatest diameter being designated 32, the gear of intermediate diameter being designated 33 and the gear of smallest diameter being designated 34. Suitable means are provided for shifting the gear unit 31 axially of the shaft 30 as well known to those skilled in the art.

Journaled parallel to the shaft 30 is a shaft 35 to which is fixed a gear unit 36 having three gears of different diameters, the gear of greatest diameter being designated 37, the gear of intermediate diameter being designated 33 and the gear of smallest diameter being designated 39. The gears 37, 38 and 39 are spaced closer together than are the gears 32, 33 and 34. In FIG- URE 2 the gears 33 and 38 are shown in mesh. If the gear unit 31 is shifted downwardly viewing FIGURE 2 the gears 33 and 38 will move out of mesh and the gears 32 and 39 will move into mesh. If the gear unit is moved upwardly the gears 34 and 37 will move into mesh. Therefore the mechanism just described constitutes a transmission enabling the shaft 35 to be driven at somewhat different speeds.

Fixed to the shaft 35 is a gear 4'0 which is always in mesh with a gear 41 fixed to a solid shaft 42 which enters a differential housing 43 and carries a bevel gear 44. Surrounding the solid shaft 42 and also entering the differential housing 43 is a hollow shaft 45 which carries a bevel gear 46 meshing with the bevel gear 44. Entering the differential housing 43 from the opposite end but coaxial with the shafts 42 and 45 is a shaft 47 to which is fixed a bevel gear 48 meshing with the bevel gear 44. The shaft 47 is coupled to the shaft 49 of the feed roll 20 by a coupling 50.

The differential mechanism in the housing 43 is of conventional construction. When the hollow shaft 45 is stationary and the shaft 42 is driven the bevel gear 46 causes the bevel gear 44 to turn about its axis which in turn drives the bevel gear 43 which in turn drives the shaft 47 and hence the feed roll 20 (and, through the meshing driving gears carried by the shafts of the feed rolls, also the feed rolls 23) at the same speed as the shaft 42. When, however, the hollow shaft 45 is driven the speed of the feed rolls becomes either greater or less than the speed of the shaft 42 depending upon the direction in which the shaft 45 is driven.

Fixed to the shaft 45 is a sprocket 51 adapted to be driven by a sprocket 53 through a sprocket chain 52. The sprocket 53 is fixed to one of the shafts 54 of a clutch and brake unit 55 which may be of conventional construction. The other shaft 56 of the clutch and brake unit 55 has fixed thereto a sprocket 57 adapted to be driven by a sprocket 59 through a sprocket chain 58. The sprocket 59 is fixed to the shaft 59a of a constant speed reversible alternating current motor 6%. When the motor 60 is operated in one direction and the clutch of the unit 55 is engaged the shaft 45 will be correspondingly driven and the feed rolls will be speeded up. When the motor 60 is operated in the opposite direction and the clutch of the unit 55 is engaged the shaft 45 will be correspondingly driven and the feed rolls will be slowed down. Since the motor 60 is a constant speed motor the speed of driving of the shaft 45 will always be the same although the direction of drive is reversible at will, suitable controls for the motor 66 as well known to those skilled in the art being provided for that purpose.

Thus it will be seen that by operation of the motor 60 in a selected direction and engagement of the clutch of the unit 55 the feed rolls may be driven at a fixed speed selectively faster or slower than the normal speed of the material being acted on, which normal speed is that imparted by the feed rolls 2t) and 23 when the shaft 45 is stationary. The material being sheared is, as above mentioned, driven at substantially the speed of advance of the shear at the moment of shearing. During the moment of shearing the brake of the unit 55 is applied. Immediately after the moment of shearing the brake in the unit 55 may he released and the clutch engaged by the operation of control means connected with the shear and with the motor 693 operating in the selected direction the feed rolls will be either speeded up or slowed down. This alters the speed of feed of the material with the result that the spacing along the material between the laces where the material is sheared is altered. The amount or magnitude of alteration of such spacing depends upon the time during which the clutch in the unit 55 is engaged during each cycle. It may also be here pointed out that a separate control is provided for the miscut mechanism so that one or more miscuts may be provided if desired along with the speed'mg up or slowing down of the feed rolls. Rotation of the shaft 45 is stopped by disengage ment of the clutch and application of the brake of the unit 55. For controlling the time interval between release of the brake and engagement of the clutch and disengagement of the clutch and application of the brake I provide on the shaft 54- a gear 61 in mesh with a gear 62 fixed to the shaft 63 of an electronic pulse tachometer 64 which is a standard instrument readily obtainable in the market. The tachometer produces electronic pulses at predetermined intervals, the number of such pulses as the shaft 54 rotates being a measure of time during which the shaft 45 is being driven. An electronic counter 65 which is also a standard instrument readily obtainable in the market is connected with the tachometer 64 and electrical connections extend from the counter 65 to the clutch and brake unit 55 so that, when the counter is set for a predetermined number of counts imparted to it by the tachometer, at the end of such predetermined number of counts the clutch will be disengaged and the brake will be applied.

. Thus through setting the counterS the time during which the motor (it? drives the shaft 45 is predetermined, it being borne in mind that'the direction of driving of the shaft 45 may be reversed by reversing the direction of direction.

operation of the motor 60. Thus after each shearing stroke the feed rolls will either be speeded up or slowed down as may be desired for a predetermined time. During that predetermined time the feed rolls feed the material either at a speed greater than or at a speed less than the speed of advance of the shear at the time of cutting so that the spacing along the material between cuts may be predetermined at will.

As already mentioned the miscut control may be utilized along with the control mechanism just described so that very accurate length control may be obtained at either short or long intervals along the material.

The clutch of the unit will be engaged during only a fraction of each cycle. It is desirable that such engagement be kept at a minimum to insure adequate time for length adjustment at high operating speeds. To aid in minimizing the time of operation of the clutch during each cycle the transmission involving the gears 32, 33, 34, 37, 33 and 39 is provided. The transmission will be set for the speed which provides for minimum length adjustment by the control mechanism described. For example, the intermediate size gears 33 and 38 may bring about normal advance of thematerial 18 inches per cycle while the gears 32 and 39 may cause the material to normally advance 20 inches per cycle and the gears 34 and 37 may cause the material to normally advance 16 inches per cycle. If cut lengths of 15 inches are desired the gears 34 and 37 will be brought into mesh as then an adjustment of only one inch per cycle, i.e., from 16 inches to 15 inches, will need to be effected by the control mechanisrn.

The mechanism described has important advantages over prior mechanisms including a PIV unit. The feed length may be changed in extremely simple manner with the shear either operating or stationary by simply setting the electronic counter, coupled if required by shifting of the transmission and utilization of the miscut control, making sure that the motor is operating in the desired Neither varying load nor varying line speed affects the feed length. Jog length is the same as run ning length. Extremely close accuracy is assured while the cost of the control mechanism is materially less than that of mechanisms previously employed utilizing a PIV unit.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and at a speed in dependent of the speed of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material and control means for controlling the driving mechanism to predeterminedly drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

2. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the Opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and at a speed independent of the speed of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material, control means for controlling the driving mechanism to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material and selector means for predetermining the time interval during which the feed means are driven at said different speed whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

3. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means, the driving mechanism including a differential, means for operating the differential to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means While the tool means act on the material and at a speed independent of the speed. of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material and control means for controlling the differential to predeterminedly drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the spaces on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

4. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and at a speed independent of the speed of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material and control means including electronic means for controlling the driving mecha nism to predeterminedly drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

5. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means, the driving mechanism including a differential, means for operating the differential to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and at a speed independent of the speed of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material, control means for controlling the differential to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material and selector means for predetermining the time interval during which the feed means are driven at said different speed whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

6. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means, the driving mechanism including a differential, means for operating the differential to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and at a speed independent of the speed of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material, control means for controlling the diiferential to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material and selector means including electronic means for predetermining the time interval during which the feed means are driven at said different speed whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places. on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

7. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancin the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means, the driving mechanism including a differential, a direct drive through the differential to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material, the differential having an element actuatable to cause the differential to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material, actuating means for said element and selector means for predetermining the time interval during which said element is actuated whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

8. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance generally along the path of the advancing material and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means, the driving mechanism including a difierential, a direct drive through the differential to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material, the differential having an element actuatahle to cause the differential to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material, actuatin means for said element, clutch and brake means interposed between the actuating means and said element selectively operable to connect the actuating means to said element to actuate said element and to stop actuation of said element and selector means for predetermining the time interval between operation of the clutch and operation of the brake and thereby control the length of time of actuation of said element whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

9. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and at a speed independent of the speed of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on tne material, control means for controlling the driving mechanism to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material and selector means including an electronic counter for predetermining the time interval during which the feed means are driven at said different speed whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

10. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance generally along the path of the advancing material and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and at a speed independent of the speed of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material, control means for controlling the driving mechanism to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material and selector means including an electronic pulse tachometer and an electronic counter for predetermining the time interval during which the feed means are driven at said difierent speed whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

ll. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means having opposed elements for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance and retract generally along the path of the advancing material and the opposed elements thereof move rectilinearly relatively toward each other and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism including a transmission driving the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material and at a speed independent of the speed of the tool means while the tool means are not acting on the material, the transmission having means for varying the amplitude of advance of the material per cycle of the tool means, and control means for controlling the driving mechanism to predeterminedly drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places onlthe material at which the tool means act on the materia 12. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance generally along the path of the advancing material and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means, the driving mechanism including a differem tial, a direct drive through the differential to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material, the differential having an element actuatable to cause the difierential to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed difierent than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material, a constant speed motor for actuating said element and means including a counter for predetermining the time interval during which said motor actuates said element whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

13. Apparatus for acting on continuously advancing elongated material comprising feed means for continuously advancing the material, tool means for acting on the material as the material advances, means imparting continuous cyclic movement to the tool means whereby the tool means advance generally along the path of the advancing material and act on the advancing material during such advance of the tool means and the tool means then return in the opposite direction to complete the cyclic movement thereof, driving mechanism driving the feed means, the driving mechanism including a diiferential, a direct drive through the difierential to drive the feed means to advance the material substantially at the speed of advance of the tool means while the tool means act on the material, the differential having an element actuatable to cause the differential to drive the feed means while the tool means are not acting on the material at a speed different than the speed of advance of the tool means at the time when the tool means are acting on the material, a constant speed motor for actuating said element, clutch and brake means interposed between the motor and said element selectively operable to connect said motor to said element to actuate said element and to stop actuation of said element and a counter for detel-mining the time interval between operation of the clutch and operation of the brake and thereby control the length of time of actuation of said eiement whereby to determine the spacing along the material between the 12 places on the material at which the tool means act on the material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,281,581 Hallden May 21, 1940 2,251,306 Thompson Aug. 5, 1941 2,415,428 Iversen Feb. 11, 1947 2,838,947 Sarka June 17, 1958 2,873,803 Sarka Feb. 17, 1959 2,995,968 Tomberg Aug. 15, 1961 

1. APPARATUS FOR ACTING ON CONTINOUSLY ADVANCING ELONGATED MATERIAL COMPRISING FEED MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCING THE MATERIAL, TOOL MEANS HAVING OPPOSED ELEMENTS FOR ACTING ON THE MATERIAL AS THE MATERIAL ADVANCES, MEANS IMPARTING CONTINUOUS CYCLIC MOVEMENT TO THE TOOL MEANS WHEREBY THE TOOL MEANS ADVANCE AND RETRACT GENERALLY ALONG THE PATH OF THE ADVANCING MATERIAL AND THE OPPOSED ELEMENTS THEREOF MOVE RECTILINEARLY RELATIVELY TOWARD EACH OTHER AND ACT ON THE ADVANCING MATERIAL DURING SUCH ADVANCE OF THE TOOL MEANS AND THE TOOL MEANS THEN RETURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO COMPLETE THE CYCLIC MOVEMENT THEREOF, DRIVING MECHANISM DRIVING THE FEED MEANS TO ADVANCE THE MATERIAL SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE SPEED OF ADVANCE OF THE TOOL MEANS WHILE THE TOOL MEANS ACT ON THE MATERIAL AND AT A SPEED INDEPENDENT OF THE SPEED OF THE TOOL MEANS WHILE THE TOOL MEANS ARE NOT ACTING ON THE MATERIAL AND CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE DRIVING MECHANISM TO PREDETERMINEDLY DRIVE THE FEED MEANS WHILE THE TOOL MEANS ARE NOT ACTING ON THE MATERIAL WHEREBY TO DETERMINE THE SPACING ALONG THE MATERIAL BETWEEN THE PLACES ON THE MATERIAL AT WHICH THE TOOL MEANS ACT ON THE MATERIAL. 